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Title: Opposing to the Mandatory ROTC (Reserve Officers’ Training Corps) Curriculum for Senior

High School Students in the Philippines.

I. Introduction

Reserve Officers’ Training Corps is an elective curriculum that you take along with your

required college classes. It is a mechanism for bringing such a diverse group of citizens into the military.

Moreover, it provides an educational experience that is knowingly different from that of the

military academies. The ROTC program is one of the nation’s top leadership programs. The

program offer to high school that teaches students character education, student achievement, wellness,

leadership, and diversity. And it also prepares all high school students with the tools, training,

experiences, and convenient skills that will help the youth succeed in any competitive environment.

They grouped with other people in a program that is designed to build and strengthen the principles of

teamwork and brotherhood among soldiers. President Rodrigo Roa Duterte order to revive the

mandatory ROTC program amid calls for It’s abolition and the administration moves the revitalization

of ROTC in the curriculum of both public and private secondary and tertiary schools in the Philippines.

The main purpose of ROTC programs today is to train young men and women to become an officers in

military. And after graduation the students that are participating in ROTC can immediately begin serving

in the military as an officers. In imposing the ROTC, I’m not agree in it, because it can only waste the

time of the students especially in their academic performance and also because of its disadvantages

that the students may encounter during

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their training. Additional fees for the students in buying their uniform for military training. Staying at

school more than school hours, instead that the students must do another requirements in their respective

subjects, and that’s one of reasons why they can’t do it and pass it within the deadline because they are

busy for their training. Students may experience stress on it, Moreover, the students cannot focused in

their study because they may think about their training, if they can’t cope with it, they maybe get a low

grade for the subject ROTC. And how about for the students that have a heart problem or the students

that can experiences a problem in breathing. It is okay if it is not compulsory, because some students

may want to focus in their specialization and some are not favored to have that subject ROTC and they

may think that they cannot benefit in it. It may useless for the students that the courses they choose is not

closely related to that subject. Instead they may focused their mind in their specialization course and

what will happen if some students are not interested to that training, According to Anakbayan

Chairperson Vencer Crisostomo (2017) if the ROTC becomes mandatory it will only get worse

especially in hazing and abuses. ROTC program was viewed with increasing discontent, especially from

the cadets themselves. Various abuses and corrupt practices were noted ranging from hazing and other

forms of violence, to financial extortion. In addition, Senate Bill No. 2232, which seeks to require senior

high students to participate in the ROTC program, will violate the Optional Protocol to the United

Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, a protocol to which the Philippines is a part of. Most

students enrolled in Grades 11 and 12 are 16 to 17 year olds and are minors. According to Hontiveros

(2019) Since the Armed Forces of the Philippines is also composed of a ‘citizens’ armed force which

shall undergo military training,’ we would be violating our international commitment if we compulsorily

recruit into the reserved forces those who are not of the age of majority.
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II. Counter Arguments

Mandatory ROTC is the solution in our country to avoid terrorism and rebellion.

First, ROTC does not only focusing on concerns such as practical problems within the

program itself, but also from greater political concerns over the role of the military in Philippine

society in general. Second, in this program we have leadership, team work and management

skills needed to become a Philippine Army officer or to have a successful citizen career to.

Lastly, it can help people develops the team-building, negotiating and consensus-building skills

that Army officers need in helping the people of the world establish democratic systems,

govern & secure themselves and institutionalize liberty and human rights. The benefits of

Mandatory ROTC are Financial aid, The military loves to help its members receive their

education. As such, there are many scholarships available to ROTC cadets. Even if you do not

receive a full four-year scholarship, many institutions offer financial incentives to ROTC

students. Like-minded classmates, By enrolling in an ROTC program, you are guaranteed to

meet a group of students who share your interests. It’s kind of like having instant friends! Not

only that, but your ROTC instructors will be experienced officers and noncommissioned

officers (highly experienced enlisted personnel), able to answer any questions you have about

the military, the lifestyle, and the jobs. And career stability, after completing an ROTC program,

you will commission as a second lieutenant or an ensign. Having an officer’s rank means a

higher paycheck, along with the benefits of a steady job, health insurance, and paid time off. As we all

notice killing people is one of the concerns that our country is facing. What do you think is the root of

this crime? For us, the root of the crime here in our country is that we don’t have unity towards each

other. Since not all people are well educated here at our country and
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they don’t have a job, money and some of the young people at least they can have the idea and the

spirit to save their country to those who planned to conquer it.

III. Argument

Although having a ROTC mandatory in high school may build confidence and leadership

skills for the students at high school and also gives you the chance to serve our beloved country, which

may not mean a whole lot to some people, but it certainly means a lot to the country you served. The

ROTC program has long been criticized for being an avenue for continuing abuse and violence against

student cadets. In our education system, in fact, no other education program holds the most violent

record. With this, many people especially students are not in favor for implementing back the ROTC.

Advocates to make ROTC mandatory again argue that it would help teach discipline and nationalism.

Students from the Polytechnic University of the Philippines reported acts of violence through hazing and

corporal punishment being committed by PUP student officials. Recently, a viral video from the

University of Mindanao-Tagum showed student cadets being punched repeatedly in the chest and

stomach. These acts of violence continue, despite the reservist program being optional at present. As a

student, I disagree with the mandatory ROTC program. The rights of many students will be affected if

that program will be implemented. There were too many people who suffered because of ROTC. And if

ROTC will be implemented again, a number of people might experience sufferings and this will only

increase the record. Officials said that they will implement ROTC to teach discipline and nationalism.

But there were cases of hazing just because of that ROTC. The big question is, “Is this the only way

to teach discipline to our

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students?” ROTC is created to teach discipline and nationalism to our students. It will help us to secure

our country to the invaders. There are many trainings that students can learn like military leadership,

disaster response, map reading, jungle survival skills and other. But, if there are rights that will be

affected, it is still useless. Before implementing the ROTC program, they should first the people who

will be affected, specially the students. In the past, some used it for violence rather than discipline. I

hope this time it will be properly implemented having an equal treatment for everybody and without

steeping the rights of others, especially the students.

IV. Conclusion

As we all notice killing people is one of the concerns that our country is facing. The root of the crime

here in our country is that we don’t have unity towards each other. Since not all people are well educated

here at our country and they don’t have a job, money and some of the young people at least they can

have the idea and the spirit to save their country to those who planned to conquer it. The extreme sides

of the argument—for and against implementing a mandatory Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC)

program fall like this, On one side, this would brainwash our youth into mindless killing machines to

serve the nefarious purposes of the government. On the other hand, it would create an army of warriors

ready to take on any invaders, perhaps both human and from space. Perhaps rather than making ROTC

training mandatory in senior high school, the existing NSTP format could be implemented. From all

accounts, in general the NSTP has been successful for both the students and the community. If ROTC is

important, then the government should explain why and how to the students. If they are old enough to be

trained, then they are mature enough to make their own decisions.
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